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Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences
Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 3201-3219, February 2015
Online ISSN: 1920-3853; Print ISSN: 1715-9997
Available online at www.cjpas.net
AN EVALUATION OF DISTRIBUTION, STATUS AND ABUNDANCE
OF FRESHWATER TURTLES IN THE SELECTED AREAS OF
SINDH AND KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA PROVINCES OF PAKISTAN
M Zaheer Khan1, *Amtyaz Safi
1, Farina Fatima
2, Syed Ali Ghalib
1, M Usman Ali Hashmi
1,
Iqbal Saeed Khan1, Saima Siddiqui
1, Afsheen Zehra
1 and Babar Hussain
3
1Wildlife Section,
Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270
21372 Freeport Drive, Mississauga, ONT L5C 1S6, Canada
3The World Conservation Union (IUCN), 1 Bath Island Road, Karachi.
ABSTRACT
In the present work, studies on the distribution and status of freshwater turtles were conducted in Charsadda, Peshawar,
Nowshera and Dera Ismail Khan Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, and Thatta, Badin, Sanghar and
Sukkur districts of Sindh province. Eight species - Lissemys punctata, Pangshura smithii, Pangshura tectum, Chitra
indica, Nilssonia gangeticus, Nilssonia hurum, Hardella thurjii, and Geoclemys hamiltonii were recorded. In Sindh,
Geoclemys hamiltonii was recorded as rare in Badin, Sanghar and Sukkur districts, while other species were abundant,
common or uncommon. Pangshura tectum was recorded only from Sukkur district while Chitra indica was recorded in
all the four selected districts of Sindh. Geoclemys hamiltonii was recorded only in D.I. Khan district of KPK. Lissemys
punctata was the most abundant and most widely distributed species in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Population of freshwater
turtles in Sindh is much higher than that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Currently, due to habitat destruction, eutrophication,
agricultural farming and other anthropogenic activities, population of Geoclemys hamiltonii has also decreased in Sindh.
Keywords: Pakistan, freshwater turtles, distribution, status.
INTRODUCTION
Globally, turtles are among the endangered of the major
groups of vertebrates, surpassing birds, mammals,
cartilaginous and bony fishes, and amphibians. According
to the current IUCN 2013 Red List, 135 turtle species are
officially regarded as globally Threatened [(Critically
Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), or Vulnerable
(VU)]. Of the 335 total species of turtles and tortoises,
107 (31.9%) are CR or EN, 167 (49.9%) are Threatened
(CR, EN, or VU), and 175 (52.2%) are threatened or
extinct (van Dijk et al., 2014).
Pakistan is a man’s carved northwestern political division
of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent and not a natural geological
entity. Its varied topography and bioclimate are reflected
in the diversity of its soil, climates, habitats, flora and
fauna (Khan, 1980; Mufti et al., 1997). Around 167
reptile species have been recorded from Pakistan
(Auffenberg and Khan, 1991; Ghalib et al., 1976;
Rehman and Iffat, 1997). As many as 105 species have
been recorded from Sindh (Khan et al., 2012).
The freshwater resources of Pakistan are dominated by
the Indus River system, which serves as drainage basin
for Himalayas. Most of wetlands support the resident and
migratory birds, fish fauna and aquatic vegetation. Due to
several anthropogenic activities to cater the needs of
growing population, the degradation of freshwater
ecosystem by a variety of stressors has increased
exponentially. As a result, many ecosystems are in need
of some drastic corrective restoration.
Turtles are represented in Pakistan by 05 families, 13
genera and 15 species (Khan, 2006). The freshwater turtle
fauna of Pakistan is entirely Oriental at both the generic
and species levels (Table 1).
There are 02 families, 06 genera and 08 species of
freshwater turtles found in Pakistan, namely
Geoemydidae which consists of hardshelled turtles viz
Spotted Pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii), Crowned
river turtle (Hardella thurjii), Brown roofed turtle
(Pangshura smithii), and Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura
tectum) and the second, Trionychidae which comprises of
softshell turtles viz. Indian narrow-headed soft-shell turtle
(Chitra indica), Indian soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia
gangeticus), Indian peacock soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia *Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3202
hurum) and Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata
andersonii) (Azam and Saeed, 2011; Noureen, 2007;
Noureen et al., 2012; Safi and Khan, 2014).
In Pakistan, rather nominal scientific work has been
reported on the status and distribution of freshwater
turtles mainly concentrated in Sindh and KPK provinces.
The main objective of this study was to determine the
population distribution, status and abundance of
freshwater turtle species in Sindh and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa provinces, particularly in the districts rich
in wetlands which potentially provide habitats for turtles.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
After baseline studies, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar and Sukkur
districts were selected as study areas in Sindh province,
while Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera and Dera Ismail
Khan districts were selected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province (Figs. 1, 2, 3). Several survey techniques were
employed for observation and census of turtles. During
each visit to the four study areas in each province, the
population of each species of turtle was recorded.
Identification of the species in the field was carried out
with the help of published literature.
COUNTING METHODS
A. DIRECT COUNTING
1. Habitat Searching /Transact Method
At each site several hours search was carried out to detect
as many turtles as possible with in a circular central zone
along the wetlands, such as lakes, ponds, marshes, water
reservoirs, canals and rivers, etc. This searching consisted
of approximately 20 ha within a 250 meter radius of the
observation/ sampling points. At first, the suitable place
with suitable habitat was chosen. Nearly 1 sq. km. area
was selected for the study to observe the surface of
habitat. The turtles were active both in the day as well as
at night, some of turtles were found sitting on partly
submerged logs, larger stones and even on mudflats by
the side of water, while some were seen moving or resting
just near their shelters and they became alert to see the
observers and some of them ran away very fast and dived
into the water or lost in the mud underwater. Species were
counted and identified in the field. In this way, several km
of study areas were surveyed and finally the population of
different species of turtle was estimated per square km.
Their exact locations and home ranges were recorded by
GPS, so that where any observer and biologist or
naturalist, comes for study they can easily locate the place
where the recorded or reported species are found.
Fig. 1. Map of Pakistan (Showing study areas in Sindh and KPK).
Khan et al. 3203
Similarly night survey was done with the help of search
lights and torches.
2. Capture through Nets
Some species of small turtles were captured by using nets,
such as cast net. It was done in small area and in this way,
most of the lakes were surveyed.
3. Boat Surveys
Surveys of freshwater turtles in river, large lakes and
water reservoirs were made by using fishing boats and
making observations while travelling from one end to the
other, and the same route was followed on the return trip.
In this way, 6 km round trip was covered. As soon as the
species was sighted, the time, locations and habitat types
were recorded.
4. Incidental Sightings
Incidental sighting is also helpful to determine the
presence and population status of the species. In this way
number of species, date, time, location and habitat type
were recorded.
Fig. 2. Study areas in Sindh "Thatta, Badin, Sanghar and Sukkur districts". 1. Khipro Lake, 2. Nara Canal, 3. Bakar, 4. Gujri, 5. Sinjhoro, 6. Ithpar Lake, 7. Soonhari Lake, 8. Sadhori lake, 9. Mehmood Wari, 10. Golarchi, 11.
Phoosna Lake, 12. Matchari Dhand, 13. Tando Bago, 14. Shaikh Kheerio Peer, 15. Hadero Lake, 16. Keenjhar Lake, 17. Karo Lake, 18. Mehboob
Shah Lake, 19. Kharajo, 20. Nara Canal, 21. Rohri Canal, 22. K.F. Feeder, 23. Mirwa Canal, 24. Khirther Canal, 25. Dadu Canal 26. Rice Canal.
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3204
5. Basking Behavior
In winter, the temperature of the water becomes very low.
Due to cooler weather and cold water, this cold blooded
reptile avoids living in water and so they come outside the
lake to enjoy sunshine to keep them warm. Thus, counting
of the turtle species becomes very easy at particular area
during this season.
B. INDIRECT COUNTING METHODS
1. Information from different sources
Information was collected from the staff of Wildlife
Department, local fishermen, boatmen, field staff of
Irrigation Department and other members of local
community of different villages.
2. Presence of Signs like fecal pellets, tracks, den or
tunnels (egg laying excretion)
Evidences from the impressions of fingers or foot prints,
or tail, presence of fecal pellets, tracks and existence of
tunnels (egg laying excretion) are helpful for finding the
existence, range and rough population of the species.
The study was based mainly on direct observation;
enumerations depended on basking and floating turtles,
Fig. 3. Study areas in KPK (Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera and DI Khan).
Khan et al. 3205
calculated by the following formula (Mehmood et al.,
2012).
P = AZ
2YX
P-population A- total area Z-number observed
Y-average flushing distance X-length of strip
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sindh Province
In the selected areas of Sindh province, following results
of the population of each species of freshwater turtles
were documented:
Thatta District
In Thatta district, six species of freshwater turtles were
observed, Lissemys punctata (Webb, 1980a) and
Pangshura smithii (Gray, 1863), were abundant. Chitra
indica (Gray, 1831), Nilssonia gangeticus (Cuvier, 1825)
and Nilssonia hurum (Gray, 1831) were common,
Hardella thurjii (Gray, 1831) was less common (Table 2,
Figs. 8 - 11, 13 and 15). These species were recorded in
good numbers at Hadero Lake and Ghulamullah Canal.
According to the data of one year, C. indica was recorded
as 21%, P. smithi as 22.2%, L. punctata as 26.52%, H.
thurjii as 8.54%, N. gangeticus as 8.72% and N. hurum as
12.68% (Table 2).
Status of Freshwater turtles of Sindh
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
L.
punctacta
C. indica N. hurum N.
gangeticus
P. smithii P. tecta H. thurjii G.
hamiltonii
Species
%
Fig. 4. Status of different species of Freshwater turtles in Sindh province.
Status of Freshwater turtles of KPK
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
L.
punctacta
C. indica N. hurum N.
gangeticus
P. smithii P. tecta H. thurjii G.
hamiltonii
Species
%
Fig. 5. Status of different species of Freshwater turtles in KPK province.
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3206
Badin District
In this area, four species were recorded, Lissemys
punctata and Chitra indica were abundant, Nilssonia
hurum as less common, while Geoclemys hamiltonii as
rare (Table 3, Figs. 8-10 and 12). C. indica was recorded
as 40%, L. punctata as 37%, G. hamiltonii as 4.31%, and
N. hurum as 18% (Table 3).
Sanghar District
In Sanghar district, six species were recorded. Lissemys
punctata was abundant, Nilssonia gangeticus, Pangshura
smithii and Chitra indica were common. They were
highly populated in Chotiari and Bakar reservoir areas.
Hardella thurjii was less common, while Geoclemys
hamiltoniii was rare (Table 4, Figs. 8, 10 – 13 and 15). C.
indica was recorded as 19.4%, P. smithii as 19.08 %, L.
punctata as 23.33%, H. thurjii as 14.68 %, N. gangeticus
as 20.2% and G. hamiltonii as 3.20% (Table 4).
Sukkur District
Studies were conducted at Sukkur barrage on the right
and left bank of Indus River on the right bank area of
Sukkur Barrage, six species were recorded, Chitra indica
was to be abundant, Pangshura tectum, Pangshura smithi
and Nilssonia gangeticus were common and Hardella
thurjii was less common, while Geoclemys hamiltonii was
Table 1. IUCN and CITES Status of Freshwater Turtles of Pakistan.
Family Species IUCN Status CITES Status
Geoemydidae Geoclemys hamiltonii Vulnerable Appendix I
Geoemydidae Hardella thurjii Vulnerable Appendix II
Geoemydidae Pangshura smithii Near threatened Appendix II
Geoemydidae Pangshura tectum Low risk Appendix I
Trionychidae Chitra indica Endangered Appendix II
Trionychidae Nilssonia gangeticus Vulnerable Appendix I
Trionychidae Nilssonia hurum Vulnerable Appendix I
Trionychidae Lissemys punctata Least concern Non CITES
Table 2. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles of Thatta District.
S.
No Location
Approx
surveyed
area (km)
Observed Species
Chitra
indica
Pangshura
smithii
Lessemys
punctata
Hardella
thurjii
Nilssonia
gangeticus
Nilssonia
hurum Total %
1 Hadero Lake 4 70 80 92 30 32 52 356 15.8
2 Haleji Lake 4 62 74 83 21 25 60 325 14.4
3 Keenjhar
Lake
4 55 64 89 30 20 40 298 13.2
4 Mahboob
Shah Lake
4 51 70 77 20 20 33 271 12
5 Kharajo
Lake
4 66 69 71 22 22 31 281 12.5
6 Karo Lake 4 48 57 69 29 33 38 274 12
7 Ghulam
ullah Canal
4 125 87 115 40 44 31 442 19.6
Total 477 501 596 192 196 285 2247
% 21 22.2 26.52 8.54 8.72 12.68
Table 3. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles of Badin District.
S.
No. Location
Approx
surveyed
area (km)
Observed species
Nilssonia
hurum
Chitra
indica
Lissemys
punctata
Geoclemys
hamiltonii Total %
1 Golarchi (Jaffar ali Lake) 5 28 71 75 07 181 26
2 Phoosna Lake 5 39 62 60 06 167 23.9
3 Charwo and Khanjo Lake 5 26 56 53 05 140 20.1
4 Matchary Dhand 5 20 48 37 08 103 16.2
5 Shaikh Kerrio Peer 5 14 44 33 04 95 13.46
Total 127 281 258 30 696
% 18 40 37 4.31
Khan et al. 3207
found to be rare (Table 5, Figs. 8 and 11 - 15). C. indica
was recorded 41.66%, P. smithii as 13.63%, H. thurjii as
8.33%, N. gangeticus as 12.37%, P. tectum as 20.45%,
and G. hamiltonii as 3.53% (Table 5).
On the Left bank of Sukkur barrage, six species were
recorded, Chitra indica was abundant, while Nilssonia
gangeticus, Pangshura tectum, Pangshura smithii and
Hardella thurjii were common. Geoclemys hamiltonii was
rare (Table 6, Figs. 8 and 11 - 15). C. indica was recorded
30.99%, P. smithii as 13.30%, H. thurjii as 17.04%, N.
gangeticus as 15.95%, P. tectum as 14.85%, and G.
hamiltonii as 7.83% (Table 6). P. tectum was recorded
only from the Indus in Sindh in this study area.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
In the selected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,
the population of each species of freshwater turtles was
recorded:
Charsadda District
In Charsadda District, seven species of freshwater turtles
were observed, Lissemys punctata (Webb, 1980a),
Nilssonia gangeticus (Cuvier, 1825) and Nilssonia hurum
(Gray, 1831) were abundant. Pangshura smithii (Gray,
1863) and Chitra indica (Gray, 1831), were common,
Hardella thurjii (Gray, 1831) and Pangshura tectum
(Gray, 1873) were less common (Table 7, Figs. 8 – 11 and
13 - 15). These species were recorded in good numbers in
Table 4. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles of Sanghar District.
S.
No. Location
Approx
surveyed
area (km)
Observed Species
Chitra
indica
Nilssonia
gangeticus
Pangshura
smithii
Hardella
thurjii
Geoclemys
hamiltonii
Lissemys
punctcta
Total %
1 Khipro
Lake
5 71 74 63 45 10 80 343 12.7
2 Nara Canal 5 64 76 69 50 27 83 369 13.7
3 Sanghriaro
Lake
(Chotiari)
5
80
85
88
61
31
89
434
16.17
4 Bakar Lake 5 57 60 52 40 07 60 276 10.2
5 Soonhari
Lake
5 41 52 44 47 09 67 260 9.69
6 Gujri 5 60 51 47 33 01 71 263 9.80
7 Ithpar 5 45 58 38 32 01 60 234 8.72
8 Sadhori
Lake
5
53
39
50
46
00
56
244
9
9 Mehmood-
-wari
Dhand
5
52
47
61
40
00
60
260
10.67
Total 523 542 512 394 86 626 2683
%
19.4 20.20 19.08 14.68 3.20 23.33
Status of Freshwater turtles in different areas of Sindh
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Thatta Badin Sanghar Right bank of
Sukkur Barrage
Left bank of
Sukkur Barrage
Districts
%
L. punctacta
C. indica
N. hurum
N. gangeticus
P. smithii
P. tecta
H. thurjii
G. hamiltonii
Fig. 6. Distribution and status of Freshwater turtles in different districts of Sindh.
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3208
River Jindi, River Swat (Khyali) and River Kabul
(Sardaryab). According to the data of one year, C. indica
was recorded as 12.99%, P. smithii as 10.69%, P. tectum
as 5.28%, L. punctata as 29.50%, H. thurjii as 3.79%, N.
gangeticus as 18.54%, N. hurum as 19.22% (Table 7).
Peshawar District
In this area, five species were recorded, Lissemys
punctata was abundant, N. hurum, N. gangeticus and P.
smithii were common, while Chitra indica was less
common (Table 8, Figs. 8 – 11 and 15). C. indica was
recorded as 9.82%, L. punctata as 34.05%, P. smithii as
15.64%, N. gangeticus as 22.09%, and A. hurum as
18.40% (Table 8).
Nowshera District
Six species were recorded in the Nowshera District.
Lissemys punctata was abundant, N. gangeticus, N.
hurum, P. smithii and P. tectum were common, while H.
thurjii was less common (Table 9, Figs. 9-11 and 13-15).
P. tectum was recorded as 13.59%, P. smithii as 14.15%,
L. punctata as 17.88%, N. hurum as 30.35%, A.
gangeticus as 17.88% and H. thurjii as 6.15%
(Table 9).
Table 5. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in the Rigth Bank in Indus, Sukkur District.
S.
No. Location
Approx
surveyed
area (km)
Observed Species
Chitra
indica
Nilssonia
gangeticus
Pangshura
smithii
Pangshura
tecta
Hardella
thurjii
Geoclemys
hamiltonii Total %
1 Khirthar
Canal
6 52 17 19 20 10 08 126 31.81
2 Dadu
Canal
6 60 13 18 28 11 04 134 33.83
3 Rice
Canal
6 53 19 17 33 12 02 136 34.34
Total 165 49 54 81 33 14 396
% 41.66 12.37 13.63 20.45 8.33 3.53
Table 6. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in the Left Bank of Indus, Sukkur District.
S.
No. Location
Approx
surveyed
area (km)
Observed Species
Chitra
indica
Nilssonia
gangeticus
Pangshura
smithi
Pangshura
tecta
Hardella
thurjii
Geoclemys
hamiltonii
Total %
1 Nara
Canal
6 80 53 35 31 41 25 265 24.1
2 Rohri
Canal
6 90 52 41 42 50 21 296 26.9
3 K. F.
Feeder
6 86 30 40 50 52 23 281 25.6
4 Mirwah
Canal
6 84 40 30 40 44 17 255 23.2
Total 340 175 146 163 187 86 1097 % 30.99 15.95 13.30 14.85 17.04 7.83
Status of freshwater turtles in different districts of KPK
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Charsadda Peshawar Nowshera D. I. Khan
Districts
%
L. punctacta
C. indica
N. hurum
N. gangeticus
P. smithii
P. tecta
H. thurjii
G. hamiltonii
Fig. 7. Distribution and status of Freshwater turtles in different districts of KPK.
Khan et al. 3209
Dera Ismail Khan District
In this district, seven species were recorded, N.
gangeticus was found to be most abundant, L. punctata,
N. hurum and C. indica were common, while G.
hamiltonii, P. smithii and H. thurjii were less common,
Geoclemys hamiltonii was observed only in this area of
KPK (Table 10, Figs. 8 – 13 and 15). C. indica was
recorded 12.52%, P. smithii as 7.92%, H. thurjii as
6.08%, N. gangeticus as 37.94%, N. hurum as 15.84%, L.
punctata as 11.23% and G. hamiltonii as 8.47% (Table
10).
Habitat destruction associated with human population
increase and several human activities may very well be a
factor in Pakistan. The status of freshwater turtle species
has decreased, due to hunting, habitat destruction,
fragmentation, agricultural and several anthropogenic
actions. In Sindh, due to habitat destruction,
eutrophication, use of chemical fertilizers, over grazing of
aquatic vegetation and paucity of water, the population of
Geoclemys hamiltonii (Spotted Pond Turtle) has
decreased as during the present study, this species was
recorded as rare in Badin, Sanghar and Sukkur districts,
Fig. 8. Indian narrow-headed soft-shell turtle (Chitra indica).
Fig. 9. Indian peacock soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia hurum).
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3210
while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this species was recorded
only in Dera Ismail Khan district (Fig. 6 and 7).
During a field survey on distribution and status of
freshwater turtles conducted in 2003, the Indus River at
Sukkur Barrage, Guddu Barrage, Jamaldin Wali and pond
areas adjacent to Kandhkot, six species Aspideretes
gangeticus, Pangshura smithii, P. tectum, Hardella
thurjii, Chitra indica and Lissemys punctata were
recorded. While, Pangshura smithii and Chitra indica were
observed as abundant in various parts of the study area
(Azam et al., 2005). Another study Akber et al. (2006)
reported the distribution of fresh water turtles in Punjab,
Pakistan. A total of 3528 specimens of freshwater turtles
belonging to the species Pangshura smithii, P. tectum,
Geoclemys hamiltonii, Hardella thurjii, Nilssonia
Fig. 10. Indian flap shell turtle (Lissemys punctata andersonii).
Fig. 11. Indian soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia gangeticus).
Khan et al. 3211
gangeticus, Nilssonia hurum, Chitra indica, and Lissemys
punctata were identified. Pangshura smithii (43.62%)
and P. tectum (42.06%) had abundant population status
whereas, Hardella thurjii (0.88%) and Chitra indica
(0.54%) were rare.
Fig. 12. Spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii).
Fig. 13. Crowned river turtle (Hardella thurjii).
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3212
Freshwater turtles have served as an important food
resource in tropical and subtropical of many Asian
countries. However, several countries of our region have
made few attempts for conservation asnd management of
the resource. In Asian countries, the freshwater turtles are
little exploited for jewellery, tourist souvenirs and leather.
They are mostly utilized to some extent as medicine and
food. During our present study, it was also observed that
Soft-shell turtles are targeted by local communities
because parts of these turtles are in demand in the Chinese
international markets and used in traditional Chinese
medicines. Some freshwater turtle traders contact the
local communities and offer them good amounts of
money to start the business and adopt it as their work.
Fig. 14. Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tecta).
Fig. 15. Brown roofed turtle (Pangshura smithii).
Khan et al. 3213
Local techniques and instruments are used for turtle
capturing (Figs. 16-17). Some causes of population
declines were also recorded which include large scale
illegal capturing of turtles for export from Chashma
Barrage, Taunsa Barrage, Head Qadirabad, Head Rasool,
Head Trimmu, Head Balloki and Chiniot area (Azam et
al., 2005). In Sindh, the freshwater turtle trade is destined
to Karachi, from where turtles and their body parts are
exported to other countries such as Hong Kong, China,
South Korea and Vietnam (Noureen, 2009; Noureen et
al., 2012).
The fishermen also capture turtles during fishing with nets
and angling, some turtles are accidentally killed with nets,
Fig. 16. Local community activity for trading.
Fig. 17. Trading of some body parts of Freshwater Turtles.
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3214
whereas, some fisherman consider them the enemies of
fish, therefore, they kill the captured turtles to save their
fish. In our study, 08 dead Pangshura smithi, 17 Nilssonia
gangeticus, 11 Chitra indica and 05 N. hurum were
recorded at Charsadda, Peshawar, Thatta, Sukkur and
Sanghar districts. During the present study, illegal
capturing mostly from Thatta District (Hadero Lake,
Haleji Lake, Karo Lake and Mahboob Shah Lake), from
Sanghar district (Chotiari Wetland complex), and Badin
District (Phoosna Lake and Shaikh Keerio Peer) was
noted.
In Thailand, Kitimasak et al. (2005) surveyed the
distribution and population status of the Narrow Headed
Softshell Turtle (Chitra indica) and reported that due to
destruction of habitat Chitra indica species has become
rare everywhere and population seems to be declining.
Habitat destruction is the major threat, as the activities,
such as road and building construction require a large
amount of sand to be removed. It represents another
problem of population decline, by eliminating or
degrading the quality of sand at beach nesting habitats.
Chitra indica is primarily found in large rivers with sandy
or muddy bottom (Das, 1995; Ernst and Barbour, 1989;
Tikader and Sharma, 1985). At present, this species is
abundant in Sindh but may soon be wiped out or will
become rare if habitat destruction continues.
Reptiles have served as a food resource. Exploitation for
food is heaviest in the tropical and sub tropical regions,
Table 7. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in Charsadda District (KPK).
S.
No.
Name of locality
(water Body)
Approx
surveyed
area (Km)
L.
punctata
C.
indica
N.
hurum
N.
gangetica
P.
tecta
P.
smithii
H.
thurjii Total %
1. Kashmalo Drain
(TurangZai)
3
20 - 06 13 - 09 07 55 7.44
2. Dub Drain
(Mardan road)
3
48 17 21 27 - 04 - 117 15.83
3. Hisara Drain
(Near Kashmir
Kalay)
3
36 13 24 37 - 07 - 117 15.83
4. Branch No. 6
from Main canal
of Lower Swat
(Behlola)
3
06 - - 05 07 16 - 34 4.60
5. River Swat
(Khyali) Near
Tarnab
3
39 27 09 17 13 17 05 127 17.19
6. River Jindi
(Nimouri)
3
28 16 53 19 - 08 09 133 18.00
7. River Kabul
(Sardaryab)
3
41 23 29 19 19 18 07 156 21.11
Total 218 96 142 137 39 79 28 739
% 29.50 12.99 19.22 18.54 5.28 10.69 3.79
Table 8. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in Peshawar District (KPK).
S.
No.
Name of locality
(water Body)
Approx
surveyed
area (Km)
L.
punctata
C.
indica
N.
hurum
N.
gangetica
P.
smithii Total %
1. Naguman (River
Kabul)
2 24 16 18 25 26 109 33.44
2. Shaalam
(River Kabul)
2
36 16 21 18 06 97 29.75
3. River Budhni 2 23 - 09 21 - 53 16.26
4. River Bara 2 22 - 12 - 19 53 16.26
5. Sheikh canal
(Kabul River
Canal)
2
06 - - 08 - 14 4.29
Total 111 32 60 72 51 326
% 34.05 9.82 18.40 22.09 15.64
Khan et al. 3215
but also occurs in temperate areas. Of all reptiles, turtles
are the most heavily exploited for human consumption
(Figs. 16-20). High, unsustainable levels of exploitation
for food are directly responsible for the precarious
conservation status of many turtles (Klemens and
Thobjarnarson, 1995). Trade volumes for freshwater
turtles and tortoises in Asia are also huge, to the level that
it has threatened the survival of several species. In 2006
and 2007, during two surveys at Chatuchak market in
Bangkok, Thailand, they recorded a significant trade in
non–native CITES listed freshwater turtles and tortoises
to be used as pets. They documented 688 individuals of
19 species from different regions of the world, many of
which are globally threatened with extinction. Five
species were listed on CITES Appendix I, precluding all
international trade, and an additional six species in
Appendix II (Nijman and Shepherd, 2007).
According to the CITES List, Spotted pond turtle, Indian
peacock soft shell turtle, Indian saw back turtle (CITES
Appendix-I), while Narrow headed soft shell turtle,
Brown roofed turtle and Crowned river turtle, Indian soft
shell turtle listed in Appendix are in (CITES Appendix-
II), while Indian flap Shell turtle is not listed in CITES
(see Table 1).
Diversion of water for irrigation and the drainage of
wetlands are the key causes of the degradation of many
wetlands of Pakistan. Small wetlands created by the
seepage from the irrigation systems are targeted for
drainage to be used as agriculture lands, other threatened
by the discharge of saline water into the wetlands, as well
as by decreasing ground water levels due to draining
programs. The drainage programs have also caused loss
of natural water bodies. At present, only 25% of the water
from the Indus River actually reaches the Indus Delta.
Most of the lakes in Thatta and Badin districts are facing
this problem.
Cultivation on river banks is a common practice among
several areas of Pakistan that can destroy or alter turtle
nesting sites. Continued clearing of aquatic vegetation
Table 9. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in Nowshera District (KPK).
S. No. Location
Approx
surveyed
area (Km)
Observed Species
N.
hurum
N.
gangeticus
L.
punctata P. tecta
P.
smithi
H.
thurjii Total %
1 Kheshgi (River
Kabul)
4
40 28 17 16 20 15 136 25.33
2 Hakimabad (River
Kabul)
4
46 25 41 22 20 11 165 30.73
3 Kund Park (Kabul
+ Indus rivers)
4
46 24 30 15 22 - 137 25.51
4 Darwazgai (Indus
River)
4
31 19 08 20 14 07 99 18.44
Total 163 96 96 73 76 33 537
% 30.35 17.88 17.88 13.59 14.15 6.15
Table 10. Population Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in Dera Ismail Khan District (KPK).
S.
No.
Name of
locality (water
Body)
Approx
Surveyed
area (Km)
L.
punctata
C.
indica
N.
hurum
N.
gangetica
P.
smithii
G.
hamiltonii
H.
thurjii Total %
1. Purani kirri
(Chashma
Right Bank
Canal Plus
Indus River)
4
12 22 19 45 12 19 12 141 25.97
2. Mela wali 4 20 05 06 11 - 03 - 4 5 8.29
3. Mianwali
Road (Dhap
Shumali)
4
12 13 19 39 05 09 08 105 19.34
4. Indus View
Road
4
04 11 21 73 09 - - 118 21.73
5. Bhakar Road
(Kiri Juma
Khan)
4
13 17 21 38 17 15 13 134 24.68
Total 61 68 86 206 43 46 33 543
% 11.23 12.52 15.84 37.94 7.92 8.47 6.08
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3216
along watersheds leads to siltation, turbidity, decreased
productivity and increased flooding. In the present study,
according to many field observations siltation is the most
common problem faced by every wetland in Sindh. Due
to the denudation of catchments area, the inflow of water
brings with it a certain amount of silt. This inflow
increases during the rainy season and causes siltation of
wetland, and presently Haleji Lake faces this problem.
Increasing salinity in freshwater rivers and wetlands tends
to decrease the species richness of aquatic communities of
the wetland as a whole, resulting in loss of wetland
biodiversity (Brock et al., 2005). Many agriculture lands,
especially in Sindh, face acute salinity and water logging.
Dogs were observed wandering during canal closure in
search of food; these dogs eat dead fishes, trapped fishes
and turtles in shallow waters. Dead bodies of spotted pond
turtles and Indian soft-shell turtles were observed being
eaten by dogs (Akber et al., 2006). In our study, it was
also observed that the turtles were eaten by dogs in Thatta
and Badin districts. Drought is also one of the important
Fig. 18. Another trading activity of local community for Freshwater Turtles.
Khan et al. 3217
factors for mortality and habitat destruction of freshwater
turtles.
Undoubtedly over-exploitation, habitat destruction and
habitat alteration were recorded as common threats to all
species during one year study. Before the present study,
very less scientific data have been reported on the
population, distribution, status and abundance of
freshwater turtles in these districts of Sindh and KPK.
Hopefully, this study will serve as a springboard for
further research, conservation, education and future
management plan. The present study revealed that Sindh
province has a richer chelonian fauna as compared to
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Tables 2-10). On the basis of our
study, three species Pangshura tectum, Geoclemys
hamiltonii and Hardella thurjii were recorded as rare in
KPK, and Pangshura tectum, Geoclemys hamiltonii and
Nilssonia hurum in Sindh, while other species are
abundant, common or less common in both the provinces.
The population status of Lissemys punctata is better than
that of other freshwater turtles of Pakistan (Figs. 4-7).
Fig. 19. Another trading activity of local community.
Fig. 20. Burning of seized body parts of Turtles by Wildlife Department in Peshawar (Courtesy by: Dawn news).
Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 3218
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that due to habitat destruction,
eutrophication and other anthropogenic activities, the
population of freshwater turtles is on the decrease. The
freshwater turtles are important part of our ecosystems
and need attention for their conservation and management
including control over trading activities. Further studies
are needed to collect more data for preparing the
conservation and management plan for freshwater turtles
in Pakistan. There is a need to increase public awareness
to enhance public participation in conservation activities
particularly directed towards freshwater turtles and their
habitats.
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Received: Nov 16, 2014; Revised: Nov 28, 2014;
Accepted: Dec 19, 2014